Enema tube



' June 21, 1949 H. L. POHL ENEMA TUBE Filed July 23, 1346 INVENTOR. H. LEO POHL syw A 7' TOPNEKS Patented June 21,1949

ENEMA TUBE Herman Leo Pohl, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Dispos-A-Tube, Inc., a corporation of Michigan Application July 23, 1946, Serial No. 685,610

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates to enema tubes, and more particularly to a disposable type of enema tube so formed as to be efliciently and sanitarily adaptable to the mass technique of enema treatment commonly followed in radiographic examinations.

Conventional radiographio examinations of the colon comprise the giving of a barium enema to the patient and the subsequent X-raying of the colon. Any drainage of the barium solution during this operation, causing the colon to be less than completely filled with said solution, necessitates a repetition of the procedure. In order tr: inhibit such drainage during the solution injection period, it is necessary that the attendant manually retain the enema tube against displacement from the patient, since the conventional tube is so shaped as to be readily ejected in the absence of a counter-acting force by the normal convulsive restrictions of the rectal muscles. The enforced proximity of the attendant has certain obvious disadvantages, among them being the fact that the attendant is substantially prevented from performing other functions or duties, an important consideration particularly when a succession of patients are being similarly treated, as is often the case in military hospitals and the like.

In the conventional practice of enema treatment, the same tube is used for successive patients after an intervening sterilization which is too frequently incomplete due to the insufficiency of the time period between patients. The result of this practice is that not only is the transfer of various types of diseases between patients enhanced, but the attendant is faced with the timeconsuming task of cleansing and sterilizing the tube.

Among the objects of the instant invention are the following: to provide an enema tube having a portion so shaped as to be retained against displacement solely by the rectal muscles of the patient; to provide an enema tube of sufficient length to prohibit contact between the tube attached thereto and the patient and to reduce the possibility of contact between the patient and the attendant handling the tube; and to provide an enema tube fashioned of a material sufliciently low in cost to enable the disposal of the tube after a single usage.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawing forming part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the enema tube embodied in the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken along the longi tudinal axis of the tube.

Referring to the drawing for more specific details of the invention, Ill indicates generally a unitary enema tube having a shaft portion l2 with a bevelled end l4 and a conoidal head portion 6 having an axial sectional contour resembling an arrowhead, said head portion having an inward taper l1 terminating in a smoothly rounded annular shoulder I8, and an annular base surface l9 forwardly and inwardly inclined to its line of juncture with the shaft l2. The line of juncture of the base surface l9 and the shaft is located forwardly of the shoulder [8 a distance not greater, and preferably less, than the radial distance between the shaft and the ridge of the shoulder l8. An axial passage 2!] extends through the length of the tube 10.

The tube is preferably made of moulded woodpulpor other material sufliciently low in price to warrant disposal of the tube after a single using thereof. When wood-pulp or other water pervious material is used, a water-proofing material should be incorporated with such material before the molding operation, or the molded tube may be coated with a quick-drying waterproofing solution. In either case, it is only necessary to water-proof the tube sufficiently to withstand moisture for a period of approximately ten minutes.

In usin the tube, a rubber hose 22, connected easy insertion of said portion into the patient.

Following insertion of the tube, the sphincter muscle of the patient constricts to the diameter of the shaft portion 20 of the tube to engage the annular shoulder l8 and base surface l9 and retain the tube in position against the opposing action of the spasmodically acting muscles in the rectal passage anterior to the sphincter muscle. In withdrawing the tube, the sphincter muscle readily expands to follow the contour of base surface l9 and shoulder l8 with no more discomfort to the patient than that caused by conventionally shaped enema tube heads.

Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing illustrate the normal size of the enema tube, and it is readily apparent that the length of the shaft portion 12 of the tube is sufficient to permit of handling during the insertion and withdrawal of the tube with little possibility of contact between patient and attendant.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications of the invention may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An enema tube comprising a shaft, a concidal head, a rounded annular edge on the head adjacent the shaft, and an annular and forwardly inclined base surface for the head between said edge and said shaft.

2. An enema tube comprising a. shaft having a bevelled end, a conoidal head on the other end of the'shaft, an axial passage through said head and shaft, a rounded annular edge on the head adjacent the outlet of said passage, a rounded annular edge on the head adjacent the shaft, and an annular and forwardly inclined base surface for the head between said latter edge and said shaft.

3. An enema tube comprising a shaft, a conoidal head having an annular rearward edge, and a base surface for said head extending forwardly and inwardly from said rearward edge to a line of juncture with said shaft, said lin of juncture being located forwardly from said rearward edge a distance not in excess of the radial distance from said shaft to said rearward edge.

4. An enema tube comprising a shaft, a concidal head having a rounded annular rearward edge, and a base surface for said head extending forwardly and inwardly from said rearward edge to a line of juncture with said shaft, said line of juncture being located forwardly from said rear- Ward edge a distance not in excess of the radial distance from said shaft to said rearward edge.

5. An enema tube comprising a shaft, a cnoidal head having a smoothly curved external surface extending from a rounded annular leading 4 edge to an annular rearward edge, said head having a maximum external diametral portion intermediate said leading and rearward edges and located in closer proximity to said rearward edge.

6. An enema tube comprising a shaft, a concidal head having a smoothly curved external surface extending from a rounded annular leading edge to a rounded annular rearward edge, said head having a maximum external diametral portion intermediate said leading and rearward edges and located in closer proximity to said rearward edge, and a base surface for said head extending forwardly and inwardly from said rearward edge to a line of juncture with said shaft.

'7. An enema tube comprising a shaft, a concidal head having a smoothly curved external surface extending from a rounded annular leading edge to a rounded annular rearward edge, said head having a maximum external diametral portion intermediate said leading and rearward edges and located in closer proximity to said rearward edge, and a base surface for said head extending forwardly and inwardly from said rearward edge to a line of juncture with said shaft, said line of juncture being located forwardly from said rearward edge a distance not in excess of the radial distance from said shaft to said rearward edge.

H. LEO POI-IL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 330,084 Allen Nov. 10, 1885 661,167 Cole Nov. 6, 1900 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 18,951 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1899 OTHER REFERENCES Control of Conception, Dickenson, 2nd edition, 1938, page 143. A copy is in Division of the Patent Office. 

